Devices for effecting controlled variations of geometrical forms and other shapes



June 23, 1959 DWYER ETAL 2,891,315

r DEVICES FOR EFFECTING CONTROLLED VARIATIONS OF" GEOMETRICAL FORMS AND OTHER SHAPES Filed March 60. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 23, 1959 J. H. DWYER ET AL DEVICES FOR 2,891,315 EFFECTING CONTROLLED VARIATIONS OF GEOMETRICAL FORMS AND OTHER SHAPES Filed March so. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w w 4 a mp v I M m m L \N W\ N W 7 7 X m tk \\\l 9 MN QN A u ,T H RE LVV /A@ .M m. R s w MN Qwmww h \\'\M m m RIRN w N @V M w W w w \R kN June 23, 1959 J. H. DWYER ETAL 2,891,315

DEVICES FOR EFFECTING CONTROLLED VARIATIONS -0F GEOMETRICAL FORMS AND OTHER SHAPES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 30. 1954 June 23, 1959 J. H.- DWYER ET AL 2,891,315

' DEVICES FOR EFFECTING CONTROLLED VARIATIONS 0F GEOMETRICAL FORMS AND OTHER SHAPES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March so. 1954 QRH N June 23, 1959 J. H. DWYER ETAL 2,891,315 mzvr-czas FOR EF TING CONTROLLED VARIATIONS GEOMETR SHAPES I FORMS AND OTHER OF Filed March 30, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet; 5

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United States Patent :Ofifice Patented June 23, 1959 DEVICES FOR EFFECTING CONTROLLED VARI- ATIONS OF GEOMETRICAL FORMS AND OTHER SHAPES James Henry Dwyer and Stanley William Charles Andrews, Mitcham Junction, England, assignors to Precision Grinding Limited, Mitcham Junction, England Application March 30, 1954, Serial No. 419,884

Claims priority, application Great Britain March 2, 1954 Claims. (Cl. 33-23) the general type described in our U.S. Patent No. 2,714,25fl issued August 2, .1955, which is intended to be posi- .tioned between a matrix or the like and a workpiece and is adapted to impart to a marking or reproducing 'tool, either directly or through a pantographic copying :machine movements which will effect either of the fol- .lowing controlled variations:

(1) Conversion of a vertical line into one inclined :at any desired angle. As examples of practical application of such a conversion may be mentioned: production of an italic letter from an upright or vertical letter, a parallelogram from a square or an inclined ellipse from a true circle.

(2) Lengthen or shorten designs horizontally. As examples of practical application of such a conversion may be mentioned: conversion of a square into a rectangle or a true circle into an ellipse.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved device capable of lengthening and shortening designs horizontally and also of reversing designs either directly or accompanied by lengthening or shortening as may be desired, such a machine preferably also being capable of converting vertical lines into inclined lines as mentioned above.

The invention consists in a copying device capable of etfecting controlled variations of geometrical forms and other shapes comprising a base to which an image or matrix to be reproduced is secured, a first carriage slidable relative to the base, a second carriage slidable on the first carriage at right angles to the sliding axis thereof and arranged to carry a stylus, a pair of top carriages each arranged to carry a reproducing tool and coupled together for sliding movement in opposite directions at right angles to the, sliding axis of the second carriage and guide means pivotally connectable to one of said pair of top carriages and in pivotal sliding engagement with the second carriage for transmitting sliding movement of said second carriage to said one of said top carriages.

Preferably the position of the pivotal connection of the guide means to said top carriage is adjustable to enable the ratio of lengthening and shortening reproduction both in forward and in reverse direction to be varied and the guide means has the form of a lever pivotally and slidably cdnnectable at one end to the second carriage and having a slider thereon which is pivotally connectable to said top carriage.

The device preferably also includes means mounted on the first carriage and capable of being coupled to one of said top carriages alternatively of said guide means or lever to act as a guide for the latter for the conversion of a vertical line into one which is inclined thereto.

These and other features of the invention will however be more clearly apparent from the following description of a preferred form of copying device which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings:

Figure l is an end elevation of the device;

Figure 2 is a section on line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing components of the device in a different operative position;

Figure 5 is an inverted plan View of carriage 3 shown in previous figures;

Figures 6 to 11 illustrate variations on a monogram capable of being performed by the. device.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings there is shown a base 1 to which an image or matrix to be reproduced is secured in any conventional manner. A support platform or table 1 is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the base and can be set at any desired distance from the matrix and locked to the base by means of handles 1". Mounted on the table 1 so as to be free to slide in the longitudinal direction of the base is a carriage 2 which itself carries a second carriage 3 which is slidable thereon in the transverse direction of the "base 1.

Carriage 3 supports a pair of top carriages 4 and 11 which are slidable thereon in a longitudinal direction relative to the base. A steel tape 12, guided around wheels 13 is attached to the underside of carriage 4 (at 31 for instance) and a portion of the tape 12 moving in a direction opposite to the direction of motion of that portion attached to carriage 4 is attached to carriage 11 (at 32 for instance) so that any movement of carriage 4 in relation to carriage 3 causes carriage 11 to move in relation to carriage 3 an equal distance in the opposite direction.

Carried on an extension 1A of the support table 1' is a fiat bar 7A which is slidable in a direction transversely of the base 1 between guiding rollers 14 located on the extension 1A. A bar 7 is rigidly mounted on and at right angles to the bar 7A and acts as a guide for an extension 3A of the carriage 3 carrying rollers 15 which bear against the bar '7. A pivot pin 16 is fixed to the bars 7 and 7A and carries an angularly movable bush 23 having two parallel fiat side surfaces which bear against the sides of a slot 24a formed in a link 24 which is arranged to pivot freely about a pin 25 by which it is connected to the extension 3A of the carriage 3, when the latter is moved in the longitudinal direction of the base.

A lever comprising a pair of connected parallel bars 6 is shown in Figure 2, for convenience raised slightly above the position which it normally occupies, and is attachable at one end 6' to the link 24 by means of screws 6". A slider 27 is slidably mounted on the bars 6 and has a central opening adapted to fit rotatably over a boss or pivot 17 which is slidable along a versely of the base and is mounted on the top carriage 4 at right angles to the sliding axis thereof, the boss 17 being locked to the bar 26 by a clamping screw (not shown) in any desired position depending upon the degree of lengthening or shortening which is required.

The upper face of the bar 26 is engraved with scales E, F, G, H representing respectively lengthening, shortenbar 26 which extends trans- .by a plate 3 and the slidable boss 17 is provided with an indexing face which can be brought into register with any particular marking on these scales.

- Pivotally connected to the carriage 2 by a pin 5 is a fiat bar 5 which can be set to any desired angle of inclination relative to the sliding axis of carriage 3 and clamped which is engraved with an angular scale with the markings of which an index mark on the bar 5 is in register.

The bar 5 carries a slider 4' with guide rollers 3% (such as the rollers on the corresponding element in applicants Patent 2,715,254 mentioned above) which acts as a guide for the carriage 4 when connected to the latter by means of a readily removable screw 4". When the carriage 4 is connected with the slider 4' in this manner, the lever 6 and its associated parts being removed from the device, any transverse movement of a stylus 3' mounted on carriage 3 in relation to the base 1 causes carriage 4 to follow the inclined path of the bar 5.

The manner of setting the various parts of the device for the performance of various controlled variations of a geometrical form such as for example a monogram consisting of the letters P and G enclosed by a circle as shown in Figures 6 to 11, ofthe drawings, will now be described.

1. Conversion of vertical lines or designs into slanting lines or designs (Figure 6) The attachment consisting of the lever 6 and slider 27 is lifted off the top of the machine after removing the screws 6", the slider 4' on the bar 5 is engaged with the carriage 4 by means of the screw 4 so that any longitudinal movement of carriage 4 is accompanied also by transverse displacement. A stylus 3 is mounted on the carriage 3 and the reproducing tool is mounted at posi- 2. Direct reversal of designs (Figure 7) The screw 4 connecting the carriage 4 with the slider 4' is removed and a clamping handle 28 on support platform 1 is operated so as to lock the carriage 2 to the latter. The stylus is mounted at position B in an extension of carriage 4 and the reproducing tool is mounted in position C on carriage 11. Reversal of the design in the longitudinal direction of the base thus is permitted due to the interconnection of the carriages 4 and 11 as mentioned above, any necessary transverse movement being permitted by the sliding movement of the carriage 3 on the locked carriage 2.

3. Forward lengthening (Figure 8) extension of the carriage 4 at position A. If, for example,

the slider 17 is set on the scale E to give a ratio, or leverage of 4:1 the carriage 4 will move four times as far as carriage 3 in relation to the base.

4. Reverse lengthening (Figure 9) The device is set as for forward lengthening except reverse lengthening and reverse shortening ratios that the slidable pivot 17 is set to the desired ratio on the reverse lengthening scale G on bar 26; the reproducing tool is mounted on carriage 11 at position C. For example, with the slidable pivot set as in the previous example (setting 4 on scale E corresponds to the setting 2 on scale G), the carriage 11 will move in the opposite direction to that of the carriage 4 in relation to the carriage 3 an amount-equal to the difference between the movement of the carriage 3 and the carriage 4. Since the difference of the movements of the carriages 4 and 3 is three units, the carriage 11 moves in the opposite direction three times as far as the carriage 3 in relation to the latter. Carriage 3 has moved, for example, one unit in relation to the base 1 and therefore the carriage 11 has moved in the opposite direction two units in relation to the base 1.

5. Forward shortening (Figure 10) The connecting screw 4" is removed and the attachment consisting of lever 6 and slider 27 is replaced as described under forward lengthening. The slidable pivot 17 is set to the desired ratio on the forward shortening scale F on the 6. Reverse shortening (Figure 11) The device is set as for forward shortening except that the slidable pivot 17 is set to the desired ratio on the reverse shortening scale H on the bar 26. This reverses the direction in which motion is imparted to the carriage 4 by the slider 27 and hence reverses the direction of motion of carriage 11 carrying the reproducing tool at position C.

We claim:

1. A copying device capable of effecting. controlled variations of geometrical forms and other shapes comprising a base to which an image or matrix to be reproduced is secured, afirst carriage slidable longitudinally of the base, a second carriage slidable on said first carriage transversely relative to the base and arranged to carry a stylus, a pair of carriages mounted on the second carriage and coupled together for sliding movement in opposite directions relative to the second carriage longtiudinally of the base, a link pivotally connected at spaced points to said second carriage and to said base, and a lever rigidly connected to said link and pivotally connected to one of said pair of carriages for transmitting movements of said first carriage to said one of said pair of carriages in predetermined ratio.

2. A copying device capable of efiecting controlled variations of geometrical forms and other shapes comprising a base to which an image or matrix to be reproduced is secured, a first carriage slidable longitudinally of the base, a second carriage slidable on said first carriage transversely relative to the base and arranged to carry a stylus, a pair of carriages mounted on the second carriage and coupled together for sliding movement in opposite directions relative to the second carriage longitudinally of the base, a link pivotally connected at spaced points to said second carriage and to said base, and a lever rigidly connected to said link and pivotally connected to one of said pair of carriages for transmitting movements of said first carriage to said one of said pair of carriages in predetermined ratio, the position of the pivotal connection of said lever to said one of said pair of carriages being adjustable along an axis parallel to the sliding axis of the second carriage to enable the said predetermined ratio to be varied for various degrees of forward or reverse lengthening or shortening reproduction.

3. A copying device capable of eflecting controlled variations of geometrical forms and other shapes comprising a base to which an image or matrix to be reproduced is secured, a first carriage slidable longitudinally of the base, a second carriage slidable on said first carriage transversely relative to the base and arranged to carry a stylus, a pair of carriages mounted on the second carriage and coupled together for sliding movement in opposite directions relative to the second carriage longitudinally of the base, a link pivotally connected at spaced points to said second carriage and to said base, a pivot support adjustable on one of said pair of carriages along a scale extending along an axis perpendicular to the sliding axis thereof and a lever arm connecting said pivot support and said link for transmitting movements of said first carriage to said one of said pair of carriages in predetermined ratio depending on the setting of the pivot support on said scale.

4. A copying device capable of elfecting controlled variations of geometrical forms and other shapes comprising a base to which an image or matrix to be reproduced is secured, a first carriage slidable longitudinally of the base, a second carriage slidable on said first carriage transversely relative to the base and arranged to carry a stylus, a pair of carriages mounted on the second carriage and coupled together for sliding movement in opposite directions relative to the second carriage longitudinally of the base, a link pivotally connected at spaced points to said second carriage and said base and a detachable lever pivotally connectable to one of said pair of carriages and rigidly connectable to said link for transmitting movements of said first carriage to said one of said pair of carriages in predetermined ratio, and including means mounted on the first carriage and capable of being coupled to one of said pair of said carriages instead of said lever to act as a guide for said one of said pair of carriages for the conversion of a trace line into a reproduced line which is inclined relative to the trace line.

5. A copying device capable of effecting controlled variations of geometrical forms and other shapes comprising a base to which an image or matrix to be reproduced is secured, a first carriage slidable longitudinally of the base, a second carriage slidable on said first carriage transversely relative to the base and arranged to carry a stylus, a pair of carriages mounted on the second carriage and coupled together for sliding movement in opposite directions relative to the second carriage longitudinally of the base, a link pivotally connected at spaced points to said second carriage and said base and a detachable lever arranged to be pivotally connectable to one of said pair of carriages and rigidly connected to said link for transmitting movements of said first carriage to said one of said pair of carriages in predetermined ratio, and including a bar pivotally mounted on the first carriage and capable of being adjusted to and locked at a desired inclination relative to the sliding axis of said second carriage, said bar carrying a slidable member thereon which is connectable to one of said pair of carriages instead of said lever to act as a guide for said one of said pair of carriages for the conversion of a trace line into a reproduced line which is inclined thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 167,542 Johnson Sept. 7, 1875 1,142,585 Laue June 8, 1915 2,622,871 Martin Dec. 23, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 974,678 France Oct. 4, 1950 

